Alarm-valve.



No. 7|4,884. Patented Dec. 2, |902.

P. EVANS.

ALARM VALVE.

(Application filed Har. 20, 1902.)

(N0 Model.)

f STATESy PATENT OEEICE.

POWELL EVANS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ALARM-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 714,884, dated December 2, 1902. Application filed March 20l 1902. Serial No. 99,227. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, POWELL EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Alarm-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in alarms for use in connection with automatic tire-extinguishing systems, having for its object the provision of a device for use in connection with an automatic sprinkler system which shall embody an alarm-valve in said system and a flow-retarding device placed when expedient in circuit between said valve and any desired form of mechanical or electrical alarm, or both, whereby an alarm or signal is effected when said valve opens.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for governing or regulating the iiow of water through aiow-arresting device used in conjunction with an alarm-valve, so that a predetermined time is required to operate an alarm substantiallyirrespective of variations of the water-pressure until said predetermined period has elapsed.

These objects I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved alarm-valve mechanism, showing the same as used in connection with an automatic sprinkler system. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View on the line 2 2 through the casing,` within which the mechanism of my flow-retarding device is contained and illustrating certain features of the construction thereof. Fig. 3 is a modified form of a portion of my invention; and Fig. l is an enlarged sectionalelevation of the main check-valve, showing its detail construction.

In the above drawings, A is a chamber or casing of an alarm-valve forming a portion of a tire-extinguishing system, there being `within this casing and pivoted thereto a valve B, having a seat-ring h. The said casing is formed to accommodate a valve-seat casting C, which is screwed in place, the seat-ring b in the valve resting upon the seat-casting C when the valve is in its closed position.

It will be understood that the valve-seat casting C includes a number of arms c, united at the center and having room between them for the passage of the fluid through the valvecasing. One of these arms c is made hollow, forming a passage c3, as shown in Fig. 1, which is extended into a somewhat elevated central portion formed by the junction of the arms c. The upper end of this elevated central portion is constructed to form a valve-seat c2 at the end of the passage c3, there being a hollow in the under face of the center of the valve B, over which is placed a diaphragm b, this latter being held in place by a metallic ring b2, suitably retained in position and engaging. the valve-seat c2 when the valve B is in its closed positionengaging the seat C. There are holes h3 through the diaphragm b', allowing access of water under the pressure of the supply system to the hollow in the valve B, over which said diaphragm extends, and thus holding this latter when the valve B is closed positively on the seat c2. The valveseat c2 at the end of the passage c3 might, however, be entirely outside of the opening through the main valve-seat casting C, but nevertheless within the main alarm-valve chamber A.

An opening is formed in the side of the chamber A, into which is threaded a pipe or conduit ot, extending into a threaded opening in the hollowed end of the arm c. This pipe rt is connected to a low-retarding device formed in two parts D and D', said pipe entering the lower portion of the part D'. The bottom cap CZ is screwed into the main portion D thereof and holds in position ascreen or strainer CZ', thereby preventing foreign material of any kind from entering the casings D and D through the pipe a.

The two casings D D are united by bolts, which also serve to retain in position a diaphragm E, the portions of the casing adjacent to said diaphragm being cut away, as shown at e, to allow of vertical motion of the central portion. thereof. Upon said central portion are secured a Valve-casing F and a structure G, the flanges by which these two structures are united to each other and to the diaphragm being also cut away, as at c', to permit of free action of the diaphragm E. Passing vertically through the diaphragm and preferablyscrewed into the adjacent portions of the casing F and structure G is a cylindrical piece II, having through it a relatively contracted passage, which may be described as consisting of an inlet-section h, ta-

pering in th'e direction in which the water is to flow, a throat h', and an outlet 712. Carried by the structure Gr is a framework g, projecting downwardly therefrom and havinga plunger g passing upward throughits central portion, said plungerhaving a head g2 normally just within the entrance to the inlet-section 7L of the piece H and carrying a nut g3 just inside of the framework g. A spirally-wound spring g4 surrounds the plunger within the frame and restrains the upward motion of the said plunger through the medium of a washer g5, which rests against the nut g3. There are also a pair of stop-nuts g4 on the lower end of the plunger g for preventing any excessive motion thereof under possible abnormal conditions.

The casing F consists, essentially, of a tubular portion in communication with the outlet h2 of the piece H, carrying at its upper end a valve f, having, preferably, a valve-seated openingf' through it. In order that under certain conditions, hereinafter explained,wa ter may escape from the casing D with maximum rapidity, I preferably also employ a ball-valve f2, fitting a seat in said valve f, the said valve being retained within the casing F, which in the present case is divided in two portions by means of the partition f3, there being openings f4 and f5 into the two compartments thus formed. It will, however, be understood that this valve f2 is not essential to the operation of the device, but merely supplements the valve f. A pipe d3, connected to any suitable drain, is screwed into the side of the main casing D, this latter being preferably formed with an upwardly-eXtending portion d4, made asa continuation of said pipe and provided with a valve-seat d5 for the valvef, which is made with upwardlyprojecting guide-sections f5, projecting into the opening through said seat to guide said valveftherethrough. As illustratedin Figs. 1 and 2, the construction of parts is such that there is a free communication between the upper and lower portions of the valve-casing D around the drainage-conduit d, and I preferably provide a number of inwardly-extending arms cl? at the top portion of the casing D, which carry a ring d8. Communicating with the upper portion of the casingD is a pipe d?, connected to any desired form of water-motor alarm.

A diaphragm .I is held between a cover K and the top of the casing D, all the arms d7 and the said cover being cut away, as shown at j, to allow of motion of said diaphragm. Carried by the central portion of the diaphragm are two pieces j' and j2, held in place and to each other by means of a threaded studjg.

It will be seen that the cover K is made with an upwardly-projecting section, forming a cavity, into which the piece j, attached to the diaphragm, projects, and two terminals 7c and 7c pass through this portion of said casing into the interior thereof, it being noted innesti i that both of them are insulated from the metal of the apparatus. One of these terminals carries a spring contact-piece 7a2, the other terminal being provided with a point 7c3, formed of some non-corrodible material, this point being placed within the line of motion of the spring contact-piece k2 when the latter is actuated by the piece j', hereinafter described. r

In operation it will be understood that the Valve B in the casing A is exposed on its lower face to the pressure of water from any suitable source of supply and that the said valve is kept from rising from its seat by the equal or greater water-pressure in the sprinkler system in connection with the upper portion of the. valve-casing A and also by pressure on the diaphragm b', covering the opening c3, normally under atmospheric pressure within the conduit ct. It will further be seen that as long as the valve B remains seated the diaphragm b rests against the valve-seat c2 of the elevated portion in connection with the hollow arm c', whereby the access of liquid through opening c3 to the conduit ct and to the alarm-valve mechanism is prevented.

It will be seen that the valve B holds the diaphragm b in yielding or flexible contact with the seat forming the end of the conduit c3 in the hollow arm c and connected to the pipe a, the construction vpreferably being such that the said diaphragm covers or closes the entrance to said conduit at the time the 'ring b of the Valve B is finally seated upon the seat-castin g C and similarly uncovers the entrance to the conduit at substantially the same instant at which the main Valve has opened.

It is to be noted that while the most desirable construction of the valve B and the seats C and c2 would be such that the said valve would seat or unseat itself upon both simultaneously and when seated would eectually prevent leakage into either of the passages leading from the seats such perfect action cannot ordinarily be practically secured. It is to obtain the above-noted advantages, therefore, that I employ the yielding or iexible connection between the valve B and one of the two seats. This yielding seat is also of material advantage in preventing or diminishing the transmission ofwater-hammer, since it invariably imprisons or retains a body of air between itself and the main valve, which air acts as an elastic cushion to take up the shocks or sudden blows from said water-hammer frequently occurring in thisv type of apparatus. If desired, the` various parts may be arranged as shown in Fig. 3, where there is an unyielding contact between the seat c2 and a seat-piece b4 and an annular diaphragm b5 to serve as the bearing between the seatcasting C and the valve B.

When from any cause the valve B is raised above its seat, water enters the piped and flows into the casing D', instantly filling this and passing through the piece H into the IOO IIO

lower portion of the chamber D. The vio? lent entrance of this water would immediately lift the valvefto its seat, the diaphragm E moving sufficiently to allow of the motion necessary forsuch seating. lf now the opening of the valve B has been due to a mere oscillation or slight temporary rising from its seat-as, for example, under the action of water-ha1nmer-it will im mediately reseat itself, closing the entrance to the pipe a. Such action relieves the pressure and allows the diaphragm E with its structures to move downward, opening the valvefand allowing the water which has flowed through the casing D and is above the level of the passage d3 to fiow out of the same through the small valve-casing F. lf, on the other hand, the valve B has not immediately closed after rising from its seat, but has swung on its pivot to allow such a continuous passage of water as would take place upon the operation of one or more sprinklers, the casing D would be filled in the predetermined time, and since the valve fimmediately closes, escape from the casingD is cut 0E. except for the opening left by the ball'valvefz. It is gradually filled with a predetermined delay by the differential accumnlation of the water passing into it through the piece H. As soon as said casing is thus filled by water under pressure the ball-valve is automatically closed by the in` creased velocity of water endeavorin g to pass out through the openingf, and there is no further escape of liquid. Some of the water immediately passes through the pipe (Z6 to the water-motor alarm, in addition to which the water acts upon the diaphragm J to move it upward, either or both, as may be employed. Such motion of this diaphragm brings the piece j into contact with the Ispringcontact k2, bending this so that it is forced against the point k2, and thereby made to complete the electric circuit between the terminals k and k, it being understood that these are in circuit with any desired form of electrically-operated alarm. In order that there may be a uniform quantity of water admitted through the passage H into the casing D until substantially the predetermined time has elapsed and irrespective of the pressure of the water from the source of supply, I attach to the diaphragm a plunger g', by which the passage of water through said piece is made substantially uniform, regardless of the pressure at its supply, until the chamber D is filled and under pressure, whereupon the plunger g returns to its normal position. It will be understood that the head g2 of the plunger is normally in the position shown in Fig. l, there beingthus an annularopeningbetween itand the side ofthe piece H, whereby a certain definite amount ot' water is permitted to flow past the said head under a given pressure. Should this pressure, however, be increased, the increased velocity resulting therefrom would tend to move the plunger g2 into the section h of the piece H against the action of the spring g4, transmitted through the washer g5, and would thus diminish the area of the annular opening between the head of the plunger and the inwardly-tapering sides of said section H, with the result that an amount of' water would pass the headof the plunger which would be equal in volume to that passing at the former lower pressure. By this means the mechanical and electrical alarm devices connected to the top of the casing D require the valve B to be opened for substantially a certain definite time before they operate, said time being absolutely independent of the pressure at which the water is supplied to the piston, and hence to the alarm-valve. iVhen the valve B is intermittently opened to a slight extent, or chattels as occurs under the conditions frequently found in the present arrangement of fire-extinguishing apparatus, the water permitted to pass into the pipe a will quickly flow out through the drainpipe cl3 without operating the alarm. When, however, the valve opens for a predetermined time, the drainage-opening leading to the outlet d3 is closed within said time, thereby op eratin g the mechanical and electrical alarms, either or both, employed. As soon as the passage of Water through the casing A has ceased and the pressure thereof has been decreased sufficiently to allow the'closing of the valve B both of the valvesfandf2 return to their normal positions, very quickly allowing the water to drain out of the casing D through the pipe d3 on account of its relatively large area of drainage-opening. My intention is to occasion a substantially predetermined delay before an alarm is operated regardless of the pressure of the water in the system. Therefore the intake might be constant and the drain variable in area to effect the de sired differential filling of chamber D.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of a casing connected with a fire-extinguishing system, a second casing, an alarm connected thereto, with How-retarding mechanism whereby the flow of fluid into said second casing operates said alarm in a substantially predetermined time irrespective of the pressure of fiuid in the casing, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a casing connected with a fire-extinguishing system, a second casing, alarm mechanism connected thereto constructed to be operated by fluid from the first casing, andan automatic valve provided with means whereby the area of the passage through it is varied for a substantially pre determined time to a degree proportional to the pressure of theliquid fiowingthereto, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a casing connected with a fi"re extinguishing system, a second casing having alarm mechanism operated by fiuid from the first casing, means for connecting the two casings and an automatic fiow-retarding device in the second casing having means whereby the quantity of fluid passing IOS IIO

through it is maintained constant for a substantiall)7 predetermined time irrespective of the pressure of said fiuid, substantially as described'.

4. The combination of a casing connected with a fire-extinguishing system, an alarm mechanism operated by fluid from said casing, a conduit connecting the said casing and the alarm mechanism, a valve in the casing constructed to control the iiow of liquid through the same, and through the conduit, with a flexible diaphragm rigidly held vat its free edge or edges and placed between the valve and the inlet to said conduit, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a casing and an alarm mechanism, a conduit having a valve-seat connecting the same, said casing being connected to a fire-extinguishing system, a valve in the casing controlling the fiow of liquid therethrough and to the alarm mechanism, a valve-seat therefor, said valve having a diaphragm exposed to the pressure of the source of supply whereby it is normally maintained in yielding contact with one of said valveseats while in its closed position, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a casing connected to a fire-extinguishing system, a valve-seat therein, a valve for said seat, a conduit in the casing and having an opening thereinto, a diaphragm carried on one face of said valve and placed to prevent the entrance of liquid into the conduit when the valve is in engagement with the valve-seat of the casing, said diaphragm having through it an opening or openings for the passage of fluid, and an alarm mechanism connected to said conduit, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a casing connected to a fire-extinguishing system, a valve-seat therein, a tubular section carried by the seat, a valve pivoted to the casing for the valveseat, a flexible diaphragm rigidly held at its edge or edges carried by said valve placed to engage the opening into the tubular section when the valve closes the passage through the casing, a conduit entering the said casing, and in communication with the said tubular section, and an alarm mechanism connected to said conduit substantially as described.

8. The combination of a casing connected to a fire-extinguishing system, a valve controlling the iiow of liquid through the casing, a second casing having alarm mechanism, means for connecting the two casings normally closed by the valve in the first casing, a drainage-outlet from the second casing, a diaphragm in said second casing, a valve operated thereby for controlling the fiow of fluid through said outlet in the second casing, and a regulating-valve carried by said diaphragm whereby the volume of fiuid fiowing from the first valve is maintained constant for a substantially predetermined time irrespective of the pressure at which it enters said second casing, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a casing connected to a source of Huid-supply and provided with a drainage-outlet, alarm mechanism connected to said casing, a diaphragm and two valves carried thereby, one of said valves being operative upon the drainage-outlet, and the second valve having means whereby the volume of fiuid passing from the source of supply through the casing is maintained constant for a substantially predetermined time irrespective of the pressure thereof', substantially as described.

10. The combination of a casing connected to a source of fluid-supply and provided with a drainage-outlet, alarm mechanism connected to said casing, a diaphragm in said casing having through it an opening and provided with means for controlling the flow of fluid to said outlet, with a plunger adjacent to the opening through the diaphragm whereby the effective area of said opening is Varied by variations of the huid-pressure, substantially as described.

1l. The combination of a casing connected t0 a source of `fluid-supply and provided with a drainage-outlet, alarm mechanism connected to said casing, a diaphragm having an opening through it and carrying means for controlling the flow of fluid to said outlet, the said opening of the diaphragm being tapered, a plunger and a controlling-spring therefor, said plunger being operated upon by the passage of fluid through said tapered opening so that it enters and diminishes the effective area of the same when the pressure of said fiuid is increased, substantially as described.

l2. The combination of' a casing` connected to a source of fluid-supply and provided with a drainageoutlet, two diaphragms in said casing, electrical terminals attached to said casing, one of said diaphragms carrying means for closing the outlet upon the entrance of' water from the source of supply, and the other diaphragm carrying means for causing the circuit to be completed between the said electrical terminals, substantially as described.

13. A casing connected to a tire-extinguishing system, a normally-closed Valve therein subjected onone side to the pressure of water from a source of supply and on the other to the pressure in the said system, alarm mechanism and a conduit for connecting the same to the casing, a main valve-seat for the valve and a valve-seat for said conduitrsaid valve having a iiexible diaphragm interposed between itself and one of said valve-seats. said diaphragm being held onto said seat by fiuidpressure from the source of supply when the valve is closed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name tothis specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

POWELL EVANS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. BRADLEY, Jos. H. KLEIN.

IOO 

